As you probably are aware, the Olympics just happened in London. All eyes were on the British athletes, who wanted to demonstrate their abilities on their home turf. As a cycling fan, I was most interested in the road race and time trial; in the latter England’s own Bradley Wiggins, winner of this year’s Tour de France, took a decisive gold. To honor this achievement, here’s some classic music from a couple of very important British artists:

Wire started up at the same time punk rock was sweeping through Europe. While the band certainly fit the punk template (kids who couldn’t play their instruments playing fast and aggressive music in short bursts), much of their music was a reaction to the image of punk and the rigid rules that seemed to be in place surrounding the likes of the Sex Pistols and the Clash. They rejected what they viewed as “too rock,” and instead created concise pieces unlike anything else at the time. “Brazil”, from their debut Pink Flag, embodies the band’s minimalist aesthetic, over as quickly as it began. Be sure to check out the rest of the album as well, as it works best as a full work.

London’s very own Talk Talk may very well illicit initial thoughts of New Wave and Synth Pop, but when the early 90s came around, the band recorded some of the most compelling music ever released. 1991’s Laughing Stock is considered by many as one of the first ever “post-rock” albums. Released the same year as Slint’s monumental Spiderland, it helped usher in the genre made famous by the likes of Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Explosions in the Sky years later. Check out Talk Talk’s phenomenal “Ascension Day” above, and let the soulful slow build engulf you. Cheers!

https://www.kzsc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/bradley-wiggins-main.jpg897655Intro to Radio Instuctorhttps://www.kzsc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/kzsc-300x123.pngIntro to Radio Instuctor2012-08-22 12:38:332014-01-10 11:32:14Wiggin' Out: The Endless Cycle

You don’t want to miss this concert. Ever. It’s not just a concert, it’s a weekend of concerts. A full weekend of the world’s finest jazz artists performing at the Monterrey Jazz Festival including: Trombone Shorty, Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra, Jack DeJohnette, Pat Metheney, Esperanza Spalding, Ambrose Akinmusire, Mulgrew Miller, Gerald Clayton, Tigran Hamasyan, and the list goes on and on. If you’re looking to spend a weekend listening to the best jazz from all corners of the world, you will NOT want to miss this. Tickets are already on sale, I’ll be there, will you?

Our thoughts here at KZSC go out to both Baroness and Periphery. We hope for a quick recovery for Baroness, and that everything is okay for Periphery and their family. You will be sorely missed on the rest of the Summer Slaughter tour, but that means I’ll just mosh even harder for you guys!

Dear Local Business Person: If your summer sales seem sluggish, think about this. Santa Cruz plays host to thousands of visitors each summer. Every one of them has a car (sometimes two). Every car has a radio, and sooner or later they discover The Great 88. Why not let KZSC help tell everyone about you? We offer business sponsorship packages to get the word out about your store, your services and when you’re open helping get those sunburned bodies into your place, making tasty sales lemonade out of summer lemons. There’s a sponsorship package that can fit any size operation. Want more info? Call us about business sponsorships at 831-459-3914 or check out our Sponsorship Page.

What did you do in summer camp? Whittle? Paddle a canoe? Bonnie Raitt learned to play guitar at Camp Regis-Applejack in upstate New York. Unlike our nights burning s’mores on a campfire, her experiences led to a career in music playing some of the best electric slide guitar there is. Her blues interpretations, singing and songwriting have gained Bonnie a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame plus numerous Grammy awards. As summer and summer camp season come to an end, Bonnie Raitt brings her “Slipstream Tour” to Santa Cruz on Sunday September 16th with special guest gospel legend Mavis Staples. The Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium downtown is the place. Showtime will be 8 pm.